Pardy gets beer shower after check into boards dislodges glass

Hawks fans have little fun with Jets defenseman after Bollig drills him

November 06, 2013|By Chris Kuc

(Nuccio DiNuzzo/Tribune photo)

Jets defenseman Adam Pardy got up close and personal with some fans during Wednesday night's game against the Blackhawks.

Pardy was drilled into the boards by Brandon Bollig in the third period of the Hawks' 4-1 victory and encountered several unruly fans after the glass was dislodged and a scrum ensued. One fan yanked off Pardy's helmet and put it on his own head and another spilled beer over the player's head.

"I definitely smelled a little booze for about six minutes," Pardy said after the game. "I guess somebody reached around (and took the helmet). I don't know what happened to my stick, either — that got lost in the crowd too. A little insult to injury there. It was tough enough to get put through the glass but then to get a beer thrown on my head, too, was not a good thing."

Pardy, who said "there was a lot of yelling going on, a lot of screaming" eventually retrieved his helmet and was good-natured about the encounter.

"They're into it," he said. "I mean, that's a good thing, I guess."

Chirp, chirp: NHL realignment has put the Blackhawks and Jets into the Western Conference Central Division, and even though the rivalry is in its infancy, the presence of certain former teammates is adding fuel to the fire — even if it's mostly in fun.

Former Hawk Dustin Byfuglien threw his weight — and words — around during the teams' first of four meetings this season Saturday and was back at it in the rematch Wednesday night at the United Center, which the Hawks won 4-1.

"There's a lot of talking on the ice every shift when you're against 'Buff,' " Hawks captain Jonathan Toews said after the morning skate. "He'll try and get in your head and make it look like he's serious, and most of the time he's not.

"There was one scrum in the third period (Saturday) where he was trying to punch (Marian) Hossa in the chest or something and he caught Hossa's stick and hit me in the head with (it) by accident, so we were all kind of laughing about that."

For Byfuglien, who was traded to the Thrashers (now Jets) two weeks after helping the Hawks capture the 2010 Stanley Cup, it's just business as usual.

"Just chirping," Byfuglien said. "Do what I do. Just play and talk."

Despite the trash talking and occasional punch in the chest, Byfuglien said he always will share a bond with the other members of the '10 title team.

"Anytime you see each other, you're going to smile and be able to joke around right away," he said.

White House redux:Duncan Keith got a kick out of President Barack Obama mentioning his son, Colton, during Monday's White House ceremony to honor the 2013 Stanley Cup champions.

Two former Hawks attended the ceremony, goaltender Ray Emery and forward Jamal Mayers.

"Being a black person, meeting someone like that who is kind of an inspirational figure as far as that goes was definitely exciting," Emery told the Flyers media relations staff.

Injury report:Michael Kostka and Brad Mills limped through the Hawks' dressing room after the morning skate, each with injuries to his right foot or ankle.

"Brad Mills right now, I don't know the extent of it, but he could be out for a while," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said.

When asked if Mills could be sidelined for weeks, Quenneville said, "Could be."

Quenneville added Kostka "is still a ways away."

Center Michal Handzus missed his sixth consecutive game with an upper-body injury, and Quenneville said the veteran is skating on his own.

He said it: Jets winger Michael Frolik appeared in his first game at the United Center since being traded to Winnipeg less than a week after helping the Hawks win the Cup last season. Frolik was a key member of the Hawks' penalty kill that was among the best in the NHL in '13 but has struggled thus far this season.

"Maybe they miss me," Frolik said with a smile.

Shakeup: Normally a defenseman, Sheldon Brookbank was inserted into the lineup at right wing on a line with Bryan Bickell and center Andrew Shaw against the Jets. Rookie winger Jeremy Morin was a scratch.